The Los Glaciares National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. it is best known for its ice caps, which are the biggest in the southern hemisphere.
Location
The park is located in the Santa Cruz Province.
What to See
30% of the park is ice covered. It is separated into two parts: Lake Viedma at the north and Lake Argentino at the south. Between the two is Zona Centro, a non-tourist area. The northern portion is composed of the Viedma Glacier, Viedma Lake and other small glaciers. You will also find several mountains there, ideal for trekking and climbing.
The southern portion of the Los Glaciares National Park has many glaciers, the large ones flowing into Lake Argentino. Tourists can take boat tours and venture into Upsala, Spegazzini and Bahia Onelli. There is also Perito Moreno, accessible by land.
The park is also renowned for its beech forests and rivers created by glacial melt. There are also mountain lakes and dry Patagonian prairie land.
History
The park was established in 1937 and is the second biggest in Argentina. The name is derived from the Andes ice cap range. This ice cap range is the source of 47 glaciers, some of which flow in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the biggest ice cap in the world outside of Greenland and Antarctica.
During winter, the temperature reaches 33 F. It is accompanied by snowfall, making it ideal for mountain peak photography, ice skating and skiing. During the summer (November to March), the temperatures are at 13.4C (56.12 F). Most of the tourists visit the park during this time. The park has also become a popular destination during the holiday season.
Cost
The entrance fee is 30 pesos for the El Calafate entry points. The other two entrances, Lago Roca and the one close to El Chalten, are free. The fee is for international visitors only.
Other Info
The park is also home to many kinds of wildlife. The gray fox, cougar, guanaco and nandues have been seen. There are 100 bird species registered, but there are over 1,000 of them in the park. Some of the most commonly seen are eagles and condors. There are also rich forests where torrent duck and deer have been sighted.
The Fitz Roy region of the Los Glaciares National Park is another great place to go hiking. You can also check out the estancias situated close to El Chalten. You can go horseback riding or fishing here.
